Gersh Autism’s Post

The Evolution of Field Day: From Non-Existent to Essential As I reflect on my own childhood, I realize that annual field days were almost non-existent for preschoolers. But fast-forward to today, and I'm thrilled to see how these events have transformed into essential experiences for our little ones. As a preschool principal, I've had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the impact of field day on our toddlers' development. What may seem like cute, fun-filled races to the naked eye is actually a master class in essential skill development, personality development, and 21st-century skills like communication, collaboration, and creativity. Watching our tiny tots finish their races with their own unique swag is a testament to their growing confidence, self-expression, and resilience. And let's not forget the incredible creativity and dedication of our academic team and teachers, who rise to the challenge of crafting an unforgettable field day experience year after year. I'm beyond excited and pumped for our upcoming Field Day event! It's going to be an amazing celebration of our children's growth, teamwork, and sportsmanship. #FoundreeFieldDay #PreschoolLife #ChildDevelopment #21stCenturySkills #EssentialLifeSkills #PersonalityDevelopment #Teamwork #Sportsmanship #PreschoolPrincipal #EarlyChildhoodEducation #LearningThroughPlay #ChildhoodMemories

What does great education look like for a 5-year-old? How do you help them truly understand and connect with the world around them? #Great learning environments don’t just teach—they create experiences that shape the way children see, feel, and engage with life. Every activity, every moment is an opportunity to foster essential skills that last a lifetime. The most natural way to facilitate learning is by creating experiences that allow children to live essential lessons like: 🌈 Coordination — The art of working seamlessly with others and the challenge of mastering it. 🤝 Empathy — Recognizing feelings, showing kindness, and building emotional intelligence. 🎾 Resilience — Learning to lose gracefully, try again, and celebrate effort. 🫂 Connection — Developing friendships, teamwork, and a sense of belonging. 🤔 Self-Awareness — Understanding their own thoughts, emotions, situations, and capabilities. In the best learning environments, these aren’t abstract ideas—they’re lived experiences. Through play, exploration, and thoughtful guidance, children learn to navigate their world with curiosity, confidence, and care. Because great learning environments don’t just prepare kids for school—they prepare them for life. #RethinkingEducation #EarlyChildhood #PreSchool #GreatLearningEnvironments Video Credit: Channel 4 on YT

Embark eighth graders reflect on their middle school experience 💭 Our eighth graders are halfway through their last full week as Embark learners. Most of our eighth graders have been with Embark from the beginning of their sixth grade year, spending the entirety of their middle school experience as an Embark student. Others have been with us for a year or two, joining us at different points throughout their middle school journeys. Some will go on to traditional high schools, and others will go on to alternative schools. Regardless of when they joined us and where they are going after us, we have been beyond privileged to hear our eighth graders look back on their Embark experiences in preparation for our upcoming Reflection and Sharing Experience (RSE). RSE is Continuation, Embark style. This experience is designed to intentionally bring our community together to celebrate the culmination of the 2023-2024 school year, and our amazing eighth graders as they prepare to embark into the future. The bulk of our RSE program, which we host at a local theatre, is interviews with our eighth graders that are conducted by our educators. In these interviews, learners are grouped in duos or trios and asked questions about their experiences at Embark. In preparation for RSE, we support our learners to show up on stage as their authentic, whole selves with weekly advisories dedicated to getting ready for the big event. From time to independently respond to reflection questions to practice interviews, our learners have been hard at work preparing for this community celebration! In this week’s practice interviews, one eighth grader reflected on how our learner-designed scheduling has him feeling prepared to juggle the demands of high school with his three extracurricular activities, football, basketball, and wrestling. Another reflected on her ability to not only discern how she learns best, but also to empathetically hold space for how others learn in their own, unique ways. And others simply spent time giggling at three years of inside jokes and memories accrued at Embark. And, you know what? We wouldn’t have it any other way. Awareness of themselves, and others. Understanding of themselves, and others. And a whole lot of joy and laugher. Isn’t that what middle school should be all about? ❤️ #embarkeducation #redefiningmiddleschool #empoweredyouth

Summer is here, and it's time to consider extended learning options for your student. But what’s the difference between Summer School and Extended School Year (ESY)? Both have unique benefits tailored to different needs. Discover which one is the best fit for your child by diving into our latest blog: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/diziUdAT #SpecialEducation #SummerSchool #ESY #EducationalSupport #TinyEYE

SUMMER CREATIVITY FOR CHILDREN Summer activities for children usually spark creativity and joy. It builds friendships and lifelong memories through play, exploration, and adventure. The long-awaited summer holiday is here. This summer holiday, I suggest you let your children and wards learn a skill instead of academic summer lessons. Children need skills beyond academic knowledge to thrive in life. Practical skills build creativity, problem-solving, social interactions, and adaptability, preparing them for real-world challenges and opportunities. By now, most parents and guardians are familiar with the skills their children and wards are good at or interested in. This summer holiday is an opportunity to help enhance those skills in them. If you are not familiar with or know your children's skills, ask them what they are interested in learning. Aside from digital literacy which is key in this 21st century, religious classes to boost their moral literacy and maybe swimming lessons, allow them to choose the skill they want to learn instead of imposing a particular skill on them. Try and engage them and you will be glad you did. Happy new month and happy summer holidays. 💃💃 #summer #holiday #creativity #children #adolescents #girlsinstem #stemeducation #adolescentgirls #teachers #parents Grace Ehi Ekainu.

Research shows a strong afterschool and summer workforce is key to providing young people with the experiences and connections they deserve. Explore these NEW resources to strengthen the #afterschool and #SummerLearning workforce in your area: https://ow.ly/hqhQ50RoRgo

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 to all the young minds shaping the future! Whether you're in school or dreaming of college, remember that the journey to your dreams starts with a curious heart and a big imagination. #ChildrensDay #FutureLeaders #AryaCollege #dreambig #HappyChildrensDay

Does your child need support returning to school after the Summer Holidays? ☀️📚 Feeling anxious about returning to school after the summer holidays is common. It's normal to feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as the new academic year approaches. Contact us and with some preparation and support, we can help ease the transition and start the new school year with confidence 💙 #BackToSchool #PrivateTutors #PersonalisedLearning #EducationMatters #BrightHeartTutors #TutoringServices #Nurturing

Summer 2025 seems a while away but many parents are already starting to think about their children's camp options. Choosing the right camp can be a daunting task, but it's essential to find the best fit to ensure a fun, enriching experience. At XUK Camps, we understand that every child is unique. Whether you're considering a sports camp, arts camp, or an adventure-filled program, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to help parents navigate the decision-making process. 🌟 Our latest blog post offers key insights into how to choose the best summer camp for your child, focusing on their individual interests, personality, and goals for the summer. 👉 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eDXAttbT #summercamp #childdevelopment #parenting #xukcamps #leadership #youthprograms #summeropportunities #education

Congratulations to Lexicon Strategies partner Polly McKinney who directed "Stepping Up: Afterschool and Summer Learning", a new documentary for the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network (GSAN) that sheds light on the vital need for out-of-school time (OST) programs in Georgia. OST programs like afterschool and summer learning aren’t just a convenience—they’re necessary for child safety, academic and career success, youth mental health, parent employment and overall community well-being. This film raises the huge benefits of aftershock and summer programs and inspires action to ensure every child across Georgia has access to these critical programs. Here's why such programs are important: ➡️70% of Georgia parents say that after-school programs help them keep their jobs ➡️90% of students in a 4-year afterschool program graduated high school ➡️Over 238,000 of Georgia’s children are alone and unsupervised between 3 PM and 6 PM Watch it here: youtu.be/-6or4QL1-p8